Dynamic Mud is a multi-user online game. We are currently in the early stages of engine development. The game will have no zones, instead having a completely deformable wilderness. This will allow the weather, players, and mobs to change the world through their actions. The entire game will include: real-death player killing, limited life spans and continuing story lines driven by the players. Welcome to the Dynamic Mud Development Journal.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The basic item code is all in, including containers. Not too much to report here though I will mention a bug during development which was funny: Placing a bag within itself was possible, allowing for a cartoonish result where the bag swallows itself and disappears. Maybe this will lead to a cool end of the world scenario down the road.... or just a laugh. Next is basic AI, should be fun.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Yesterday I decided to scratch coding news and help now. They arent really needed yet and will just slow me down and waste precious time before school starts up again. The most basic of the core stuff is in and pretty well tested.

I started the world stuff today. Already moving around, looking, say, and shout are all functioning. I aim to add some god commands and the limited movement stuff tomorrow. I might even get to the mapper which most likely will just be a port of the old python mapper code.

I head back to school this Sunday. Once im back I should be slowing down to only a handful of hours a week of coding, but hopefully ill keep the progress coming.Unitl next time.

Monday, January 16, 2006

I managed to get to the next stepping stone per say. Dynamic can now operate as a small chat server, accepting connections, handling accounts and providing a global chat channel and log. My aim is to finish cleaning this up and working out the rest of the bugs over the next few days before I begin work towards the next stage of development.

My next set of goals includes coding basic world, items, ai, bloodlines, factions, etc. Once this core stuff is in I will be able to start delving into the advanced features of these modules. Im thinking that on Saturday I might try running the server and letting people on to check out what I have so far and test the server with a bit of load on it. Look back here closer to Saturday for more info on that.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

The command parser now works, it even has the extra cool functionality that could potentially allow me to load new command keywords while the game is in operation. The logger now works as well, it will allow me to log anything and everything to a log database for later use. As everything else both modules have functionality that will need to be coded at some point in the near future, but for my present goals it should be fine. Hoping to have dynamic to the point where people can log in, chat on the global channel in color etc by the end of friday. The next aim from there will be the basic world stuff, maps etc, and then basic items.Once that core is complete then I can really start specializing development to involve specific features, might even be caught up with one of the early dynamic prototypes before I head back to school. Anyways should be reporting in again soon.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Well looks like i've made up my mind. I am bypassing most of the R&D stage. I decided over the past few days that I will use Java. Python will still be on the table for helper utilities that I dont want to spend a long time developing. I will also be using MySql as the database that will store most of the game data, including the world, players, items, etc.

Earlier today I coded the basis of the input module which will read player commands. I intend to have a bunch more core stuff done by the end of the week. Hopefully culminating in a server that can accept players, validate passwords, allow for simple communication and command parsing as well as logging data. Hopefully all will go smoothly.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

I started the process of specification revision today. I have a plan for which sections I will work on each day, if I manage to keep up with the schedule ill have gone through every section within about a week and a half.

I intend to start messing around with various coding tools and languages to start getting a feel for which language to use. I got a file dictating which things I need to work on. I plan to test Java, C++, D, and python as well as some database options including mysql and postgre sql. If anyone else knows of any other free database systems feel free to clue me in. Think ill be going then and ill start hitting up some code testing today. Later.-Toraux